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Ducks look for series equalizer on road vs. Kings

By WTOP Staff

GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks could be without three more injured regulars when they attempt to even their second-round series against the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 on Saturday.

The Ducks might be dropping like flies, yet their depth and balance have been among their greatest strengths during the best season in franchise history.

If Mathieu Perreault, Matt Beleskey and goalie Frederik Andersen are all unable to play at Staples Center, the top-seeded Ducks have a sizable reserve of little-known talent ready to step into the spotlight against the playoff-tested Kings.

It’s not an ideal situation, but the Ducks feel they’re equipped to handle it.

“We have three guys on our team that are probably irreplaceable,” Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy said. “Other than that, we have a lot of guys that can step in and contribute.”

Anaheim has the star power of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne, but the Ducks are also fueled by lesser-known veterans like Andrew Cogliano, Daniel Winnik, Perreault and Lovejoy.

Casual hockey fans who go to bed before the West Coast NHL games might not know much about the homegrown Anaheim talents of Patrick Maroon, Sami Vatanen or John Gibson, but they’re likely to find out all about them if the Ducks keep moving forward against Los Angeles.

“Throughout the year, we’ve just had that depth in scoring,” Getzlaf said. “Years past, there was always a drop-off after the (top line). … Now, we can get goals and defense from everywhere.”

Coach Bruce Boudreau was coy about possible lineup changes for Game 4, again declining to name a starting goalie. Jonas Hiller played the final 9:58 of Anaheim’s 3-2 victory in Game 3 after Andersen injured his right leg, and the Ducks will recall Gibson — the most impressive goaltending prospect in hockey — from the AHL after he won three games for Anaheim late in the regular season.

While Boudreau decides on a lineup, the Ducks will stick to their plan to treat every playoff road game as a business trip — even when that trip is only 30 miles on a bus.

The Ducks are spending a few days at a downtown Los Angeles hotel during the “road” portion of the series, hoping two more days of room-service food and team meetings in empty conference rooms will keep them focused for Game 4.

“The playoff experience is fun to be a part of,” Getzlaf said. “And even when we’re just up the road like this, we try to make it as much like a normal road experience as possible. We’re creatures of habit.”

The Ducks realize the importance of maintaining the proper urgency against the postseason-tested Kings, who have won 31 playoff games in the last three years.

The Kings felt they played well at home, but they fell behind in the first period and couldn’t catch up. Los Angeles hadn’t trailed after a first period at any point during its six-game playoff winning streak, and the Kings struggled to crack the Anaheim defense in front of Andersen and Hiller.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that home ice hasn’t been much of an advantage in these local rivals’ first playoff series, but the Kings expect more from themselves at Staples Center in the postseason.

“It should be (an advantage). We’re comfortable here,” said Mike Richards, who scored with 30 seconds left in Game 3. “It’s nice playing in front of your home fans.

“I’m not sure what happened, why we didn’t execute as well as we could have. We’ve got to win games at home if you’re going to have success in the playoffs. They played well tonight, give them credit. We probably didn’t play as well as we needed to, and they are right back in it now.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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